Watchdog finds Federal Protective Service officers 'not always prepared' for physical threats

The Department of Homeland Security Inspector General found that Federal Protective Service Protective Security Officers, the key force responsible for security in federal buildings, were often unprepared to deal with physical threats, like active shooters or other attacks. 

The report published Monday by the watchdog office warned that the deficiency—which includes limited authority and poor understanding of procedures—could result in "unnecessary injury or loss of life" in the event of a physical threat at the federal buildings guarded by the force. 

During several post visits from 2019 to 2022, inspectors found the officers in different buildings did not always know proper procedures, like how to respond to active shooters or bomb threats. Additionally, investigators found the officers did not always have the required equipment to respond to physical threats, noting missing weapons or gear on some site visits. 

The inspector general also warned that federal regulations often prevent officers from actively responding to a threat and instead require that they wait for and take orders from other law enforcement.

The assessment comes as Americans are increasingly concerned about political violence both before and after the contentious 2024 presidential election. New polling data finds 4 in 10 Americans are specifically concerned about potentially violent attempts to overturn the results of the election. 

You can read the inspector general report below:

The watchdog office recommended that the Federal Protective Service implement "training and supervisory monitoring" to improve the officers' knowledge.